The volleyball players of Samen Lycurgus have failed to qualify for the national title prematurely. Draisma Dynamo was 3-1 too strong.
With a win in three or four sets, Lycurgus would have qualified for the title fight. Now the team of coach Arjan Taaij must beat Orion in Doetinchem next week, because it can still be achieved.
In between, the cup final awaits on Easter Monday, where Dynamo is again the opponent. The team was largely to blame for the fact that the volleyball players from Groningen are not yet sure of placement.
Lycurgus was unable to finish in both the first and third set. While the home team managed to recover from the loss of the opening set, that was no longer the case after the third set. Lycurgus seemed to be heading for a 1-0 lead at 22-18 in the first set, partly due to three direct block points from midplayer Luuk Hofhuis.
Failed jab ball
Dynamo, however, came closer and closer, also because captain Ryan Coenen did not dare to hit twice in a row, but opted for a failed jab ball. In the end, the guests won the set 26-24.
Lycurgus, where almost all set-ups went to the outsides, equalized 25-21. The third set was ultimately decisive for the outcome of the match. Under the impetus of the much scoring Kyle McCauly, Lycurgus made up for a deficit (10-15 and 19-21) and got the first set point at 24-23.
Two more would follow unsuccessfully. Dynamo struck right at the first chance: 28-26. This came as a sledgehammer to the home team, who were only a shadow of themselves in the fourth set. The team gave up and lost without a chance 25-13.